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Texas Ranger Turned Entrepreneur: Faith, Family, and Building a Business with Michael & Lori Parker

17 September 2025 · 47 min

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Texas Ranger Turned Entrepreneur: Michael and Lori Parker on Faith, Family and Business

What's it like to be married to a Texas Ranger? Michael and Lori Parker talk with Dr. John Oberg about 15 years of Ranger work, 20 years of marriage, faith, and the business they started together.

The episode opens with a new current-events segment from John and Randy: the U.S. government's 10% stake in Intel, what it means when government picks winners, and the coming Fed rate cut, including why mortgage rates went up after last fall's cuts.

After the break, John sits down with the Parkers in Lubbock. Michael talks about working undercover against gangs, homicide investigations and protection details. Lori talks about raising their son while he was on the job, her father's cancer, and how a wellness patch led to their network-marketing business.

They also share how they met (a traffic stop is involved), why communication is the key to their marriage, how they talk about money and intimacy, and why they try to be net givers.

Marriage Advice, Faith and Family From a Texas Ranger and His Wife

What you'll discover:

  • What 15 years with the Texas Rangers looked like, from undercover gang work to major cases
  • How Lori handled being married to a Ranger, and raising a son through it
  • Why communication is the key to 20 years of marriage, including money and intimacy
  • Finding faith, and putting God first in a marriage
  • How a family health scare led to their network-marketing business
  • John and Randy on the Intel stake, a Fed rate cut, and what it means for your household

This episode is for educational purposes only and isn't medical advice.

Timestamps

  • [00:00] Welcome: John and Randy try a new current-events segment
  • [01:10] The U.S. government's 10% stake in Intel
  • [03:49] Government control of industry, and the precedent it sets
  • [04:48] Picking winners: what it means for AMD, Qualcomm and other chipmakers
  • [06:24] Onshoring chips for national security
  • [07:13] What it means for your portfolio and your own choices
  • [09:17] The coming Fed rate cut, and what it could do for mortgages and housing
  • [12:08] Is the Fed following the markets? Bad data and a revised jobs report
  • [13:06] $37 trillion in debt, and interest as the biggest government expense
  • [13:53] Last fall's rate cuts, and why mortgage rates went up
  • [14:32] What this means for your household
  • [16:21] Inflation: good for stocks, housing and Bitcoin, hard on lower earners
  • [17:02] Next time: the birth rate and college applications
  • [17:49] Sponsor break: Premium Cabinets
  • [18:24] Dr. John with Lori and Michael Parker in Lubbock
  • [18:57] How they met: her brother, a state trooper, and a traffic stop
  • [20:23] Moving across Texas, and 15 years with the Texas Rangers
  • [21:06] Working undercover against gangs
  • [21:49] Lori on marrying a Texas Ranger
  • [23:20] Homicides, protection details, and the weight of major investigations
  • [25:02] Raising a son while Michael was a Ranger
  • [25:56] Lori's father, cancer, and the health patch
  • [27:23] Michael's security work, and letting the evidence lead
  • [29:03] Their network-marketing business, and questions about Landman
  • [30:03] Boom-and-bust stories, and moving to Laredo
  • [31:25] Dreaming bigger, and a bucket-list tuna
  • [32:58] Twenty years married: communication is the key
  • [34:48] Weathering hard times with faith and the man in the mirror
  • [36:09] Finding faith through Lori's father, a pastor
  • [37:38] Talking about finances and intimacy in marriage
  • [39:49] Their son, and a sense of humor
  • [41:11] The prank call Lori didn't see coming
  • [43:18] Passing on a strong marriage, with God first
  • [44:27] Being net givers, and meeting people where they are
  • [46:02] One big relationship idea: what's in it for them
  • [46:53] Wrap-up and thanks

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About Michael and Lori Parker

Michael Parker spent 15 years with the Texas Rangers, including undercover work against gangs. He and his wife Lori have been married for 20 years and now run a network-marketing business together. They were recorded in Lubbock.

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Related episodes

Meet the hosts: Randy Lorensen · Dr. John Oberg · Anthony Marino

Transcript

A full transcript is below. It was generated automatically from the episode audio, so expect some spelling errors in names and terms.

[00:08] again with Randy Lawrence. Randy, new day, new topic, new try. Uh little little experiment here. — Yeah, I think we're going to we're going to start talking about current events. We've had uh listeners have given us feedback that they wanted to hear our opinion on some things and we're not going to turn the show into that. It's certainly not going to be a political show. That's not our intention, but we do want to — discuss current events that apply to abundance and in particular the five Fs and maybe even sometimes abundance blockers. So, I think it'll be interesting. I wish we had Anthony here for this discussion today, but uh — well, he's living the abundance today. Like he's he's off, you know, traveling and maybe we get a little trip update from him on one of these shows about how this trip has gone. So, that'll be fun. — Yeah. Europe, Italy. — We're color me jealous. — Yeah, I was going to say two of us. It's uh of the many things we agree on, that's one more thing in the agree column. So, which is great. Um, you know, fun of the show though, there's some things we sometimes disagree on. And today, I think I'm not sure where we're going to go with some of these topics. There's some things in the news that have been kind of not the headline, but like um they're headlines, they're just not the headline today. And one of them is about um the government is trying to do some things under the banner of national security to bring some more semiconductor production onshore and they've taken a 10% equity position in Intel uh at a discounted price evidently and um like this was news to me. You actually called this one out for me. I didn't see it go across the I don't I don't consume tons and tons of news but you you brought this one up. I did a little bit of reading on it. You've got a strong opinion about this. Oh, — I have a very strong opinion about this.

[01:46] Um, let me say that, you know, this administration has been talking about this and I think some really smart people have valid points that the government if they're going to give money to these companies that we the taxpayers should get something back. And I agree with that. That makes perfect sense, right? Like if we're going to write checks, like when we bailed out the banks in 0809, I would have loved if the taxpayers got something back in — Did did some of them get something back in return? Was some of that paid back or no? I don't remember. — Much I know Liia Akoka when he you know when Chrysler got bailed out back whatever year that was. — That was the 80s I think. — Yeah, they paid back. I know they paid back but I don't think the banks a lot of that you know the taxpayers we just got screwed the banks and you know we heard about all the big bonuses but so on one hand I'm I'm super sympathetic to yes as taxpayers quit screwing us quit taking our money giving it to somebody and giving us nothing back so you know in this case 10% I think technically it's 9.9% of non voting shares went to the government they issued more shares.

[02:57] So, it cost Intel nothing. And if people don't know, the government, it was 5, they gave them $5.7 billion of money from the Chips Act. So, it wasn't it was already an act that's been around for a couple of years, and they just said, "Here, we're going to take 5.7 billion that we've already approved and give it to Intel." So they give the money but they they get 10% back which on on its surface to me is completely reasonable right like like — well and it it does cost Intel something right because all of those shareholders at Intel then get diluted — so there is shareholder dilution which so just I mean just it sounds like you like the idea at a high level — yeah but I do not like it in practice at all I think this is a slippery slippery slippery slope Um, I mean, John, little quiz for you. Do you know what we call it when the government controls the means of — What do we call that? — We call that communism or socialism.

[04:01] — Right. Like that's like governmentontrolling industries is really really scary to me because — we have multiple tests. None of them have worked. They've all led to starvation, people dying, Like I just I I I think this is a I understand where they're coming from. I think it's even smart. I'm just worried I'm not worried about the 10% in Intel. I'm worried about the next time and they take another 10 and the next time they take another 10 and they got 5% of this company and 32% of this company and pretty soon the government runs production because they're going to keep printing money. They're going to keep sending this stuff out. So I What are your feelings on it? Again, you haven't thought about this as much as I have, but what do you I mean, what do you feel about it? — You know, I um one of my mentors is really smart when it comes to like semiconductor. He did a his PhD was in this space. I'd be super interested to kind of get his take on it. My first thought went to if I'm a if I'm like, you know, AMD, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Broadcom, you know, I don't know if Micron's a US company or not, but like how do I feel about the US government investing in a company? And then are they going to pick a winner in the field? Like that that from a capitalist perspective if I wasn't worried about the things you're worried about, I think there's other things to be worried about, which is is the government picking winners? And I I get a little bit nervous about that, too. I don't I don't think the government picking winners is a great idea. I'm I'm more of a fan of um you know, regulation being as little as possible and the government being not as involved. Um but again, I think of of all the people, you know, I'm the least policy kind of uh — Yeah. I I just think it's a really I'm a big believer that you that once the you know, what's the thing? Once the camel gets its nose under the tent, right? Like I just I think once you or another analogy you put once you let the horse out of the barn there's no getting them back in or you know whatever. I — the US government did do a nice job of getting out of like in 20089 they got into the banks and I think they got back out and and they got into some of the car manufacturers. I remember Ford famously didn't take money if I recall correctly and I think they then got out of that business. So, you know, I think I think the idea of, you know, being able to um put back onshore some of like the mission critical capabilities is an understandable perspective. Um — I kind of thought once we had the globalization we wouldn't go back. But — there is a national security part, right? Like they're trying to that that's also part of it is we do need chips for national security.

[06:47] — So yeah, — I like there's a lot of parts of it that I'm sympathetic at. I mean, I think this is a complex issue. Like the next — I think Yeah. And and for listeners, I think, you know, one of the things I ask Randy about all the time, like when he and I are talking offline is like, "So, what does that mean for me? What can I do about it?" Like like that's that's consistently one of the things that I ask is like, "What does this mean for me?" Like one of the things it means for me is I'm going to ask my financial adviser like, "What does this do, if anything, to my portfolio?" Like, is is this a thought process about how we're investing? And then um I just I just want to know. And then I'm I think I'm gonna be thoughtful about like um you know what computer chipsets go into my computer. Like I'm I'm very curious about how Apple's producing chips. Where is it onshore, offshore? And I I just want what what it leads to me is it it for me it's like how can I be better — For things that may impact me directly even if I'm not interested in policy. — Yeah. I mean certainly investments, right? And how it affects your family. — Yeah. I mean, Intel prices, I'm pretty sure skyrocketed after the announcement, by the way.

[07:52] — Stock prices, you mean? — The stock, what did I say? Yeah, stock — pretty sure they went they went up significantly. And now, I don't know if they've stayed up or not, but you would think a 10% dilution in shares, — stock price would go down, but it went up. So, clearly what the market is telling you is they think that this company is worth more and they're going to get more government contracts. I mean, that's that's what it seems to me the market's betting on. — When did when did this whole thing happen? Do you know? — Uh, it was a few weeks ago. It's in the last month, I think. — I'm just looking. It looks like shares up to 2531 at the high point uh on the 19th of August. Today, they're at uh and they've been, you know, even just on two days later they were down at 2350. So, I don't know what any of that means, — well, I mean, the markets are not that logical a lot of times, so who, you know, who knows? But all right, I think we can put a pin in this one. Do you have any final thoughts here? — You know, for me, I just I I want it tells me just one more thing I want to ask people in my, you know, I always think about like what does it mean for me? What does it mean for my community?

[08:59] And then do you know, how do I, if at all, get involved in policy? And you know me, I'm famously kind of uh less — as a as my career path. So I start with like individually what does it mean for my company and community? What does it mean? And just a few more questions I want to ask to be to be educated. So I think that's an important one. — Well, let's move to a lot of people are talking about rate cuts at the Fed and the announcement. I looked it up right before it's supposed to be on the 16th or the 17th of September. Um so Tuesday or Wednesday of this week by the time this comes out it there's a good chance it will be announced. And the Fed has, you know, been holding rates steady, fighting inflation, and now the suggestions are that it's almost guaranteed there's going to be a 25 basis point or if you don't know what that means, a quarter of 1%, it's 25 basis points to a 50 basis point. I mean, I've heard people saying it should be one, you know, 100 basis points, 1%. I don't think it's going to be that. But what I want to talk about here is I think it's a foregone conclusion they're going to do it. What is the impact? And this is back to your question, John, like what does this what impact does this have? It might be your stock portfolio. It might be your real estate portfolio. It could be if you need a and you know what what impact is that going to have? So — yeah, I first of all, I love when people say things like a foreground conclusion with the government with the Fed because what that means is we definitely don't know. Like I think a lot a lot of people are talking about this. I think a lot of people are supporting it and a lot of people want to see the the the economy accelerate. And so I think I think what most people are saying is there's been a slowdown in the economy that people want to see accelerated in specific areas.

[10:44] And so like real estate's a great example. I think you know the Fed cutting rates doesn't directly lead to mortgage rates, but I think it does have an influence on that. And I think that people feel it's like if mortgage rates could come back down into the you know fives um more consistently. I think you do see some mortgages in the fives now, but um more consistently I think you'd see they're a little more that allows for higher price prices with housing and people have been resistant to lower the prices. So I think you might see some improved velocity. Um my experience with a couple markets that I've seen in real estate is that you know things have slowed down a little bit and you have properties are staying on the market longer. Um sellers are less not not super willing to lower price although that is certainly happening. And so if if you were to kind of make mortgages more affordable, that allows the sellers to hold the prices firm and have more access to capital in the capital markets. I think I think a lot of people would say that's a good thing. I think there are some people that would also say that um you know, you do you're playing with the idea that inflation, you know, you could create an inflationary environment, too. I I don't know where that balance is. I just know that it's um it's a tough balance. So, — well, I might push back on you a little bit about the foregone conclusion thing.

[11:56] And I think your I think your statement directionally is correct almost all the time, but the Fed I get really wonky into this stuff as you know, and I I won't listen and I and I and I don't for the listeners, right? Like Yeah. — Um the Fed for several years now has not wanted to disappoint the markets. It's I would say that in a lot of ways the market's expectations have led the Fed more than the Fed and more than the data even though they claim to be data dependent. I mean there's so many problems with God I could talk about this for hours but the data dependency they don't have accurate data right like we just had a jobs report revised down from most of it was from 2024 but the be I think from you know the first quarter of this year almost a million jobs and many of those months had been revised down twice already right like you know they'd revise they'd have a report revise it down revise it down now they took another million jobs off the uh they're just not using current data and they're they're they're using surveys and a lot of other things. We won't we don't need to get that wonky. Right.

[13:02] It's I also understand where the administration's coming from because we have $37 trillion in debt and we're paying more money in interest on the debt currently than we spend on military or social security or it it's it's our single biggest government expense is interest on the debt and that's just not sustainable because the debt's going up. I just recently heard we added a trillion dollars in two months recently and every time I turn around it's it's 100 days it's 60 days it's I think last month we added half a trillion in 30 days or whatever. Um you we can't keep paying there's we have a lot of abundance in this country but we we we're not going to have it if we keep paying this interest. So on one hand they have to cut the — Now the question is will rates go down? last fall, right before the election, they cut rates three times. And all three times, while the Fed rate went down, the 10-year, the 30-year, and and mortgage rates actually went up.

[14:16] — And the market was saying, "You guys are too I mean, I to me, what I hear is the market is saying, you guys are too much in debt. you're financially irresponsible and we're sick of loaning you money and it's going to cost more to get to get us to give you money. — Well, that's and that's where I go back to like, you know, we talk about these things sometimes they're so esoteric and kind of abstract for even someone like me. It's like what does that mean for me? Like what are the conversations that I need to be having with my family? What are the choices I need to be making differently? What you know? And so that's what I get back to is like okay that so the country tough and so how do I need to manage my household and then I think those are the so for me that's the question I ask is so so when I see these things what does it mean for me what are the conversations I can have that involve my family then with my companies and with you know those are the things I try to think through — so I can't answer that for you I can tell you what I think it means for me I'm I'm hoping for lower rates right because I bought a house. Two years ago, the market was I I got a great deal on the house, brand new house, because it wasn't moving because of interest rates.

[15:26] So, but I now have a, you know, 6 and 3/4% interest rate locked in. — I would love to knock a couple points off that thing and refund. — that's one of my hopes, but to your point earlier, if interest rates go down, home building is going to go. that helps the mortgage industry, that helps the builders, that helps the, you know, those people spend money at the grocery store and vacations and whatever else. So, yeah, — it it also could be really good for the economy. But — the and this is getting a little wonky, but in a nutshell, my feeling is the market is going to respond the same way and rates are going to go up and they cannot they literally we cannot afford that as a country. It's not an option to have rates get higher. They have to cut the interest rates and the only way to do that the lever that the Fed pulls is they will print more money and they will the Fed will increase its balance sheet. They will take they will buy bonds at lower rates, lower bids and therefore I think that means inflation assuming I'm right that is great for stocks that's great for housing that is great for Bitcoin which is where a lot of my net worth is.

[16:39] However, it is really bad for lower class, even lower middle class cuz expenses go up and it means more inflation and people that don't. It's really great if you own a million-doll house and it goes to 1.5. But if you're trying to buy a house and all of a sudden the price goes up 50%. — This isn't very good for you. It's not — Yeah. Especially with some prime credit. And you know, maybe maybe for the next time we get together to talk about headlines. I just saw a headline that said, you know, next year is the first year that a declining birth rate is going to impact college applications. And so I don't know the size of the education industry relative to the rest of the country's industries, but I wonder what kind of impact that's going to have. So maybe we can pick that one up next time. But again, you know, it's policy level, lots of things going on. What does that do to impact the companies that we are involved with? What needs to happen kind of individually to uh be aware and make moves? And uh yeah, so I think those are those are really great questions. So — all right. Well, I think we can uh move on to our regular scheduled guest. — All right.

[17:42] — All right, John. I enjoyed this. I think this is I think this is a good change for the better moving forward. — Good stuff. Yeah, hope most good changes for the better. — Yeah. Hey, it's Randy from Tales of Abundance. Is starting a business part of your journey? Do you have ambition but no clear path? Maybe you feel trapped in your current career? Do you want a real business that can produce $250,000 or more income for you and your family? We have an opportunity for a profitable business that can be part of your path to abundance. I want to personally invite you to see the proven system we've built. It's designed to give you that freedom and control you've been searching for. Visit premiumc to learn more. That's premiumc All right, listeners. Welcome back to Tales of Abundance. I am Dr. John Oberg here with you today with Lori and Michael Parker. Little bit of a different show today. Today we're going to be uh talking to people out here in Levik, Texas. We have a whole group of people coming in for a whole lot of different media reasons and met Lauria and Michael. We go back a long way now. We're six, seven minutes. — Yes, exactly. That's a long time — And and in West Texas where we are today like that. So I mean friendships go on for decades and decades and decades. So for six minutes we're going to get to know each other pretty quick. I'm — Let's do it.

[18:57] — Okay. Not much background. So, you two met here in Levik. — We did. We did. My brother was a state trooper and then that's how I met my husband through my brother cuz he was a highway patrolman. — Okay. So, he didn't pull you over. — No. Jokingly he did one time, but that was okay. — They knew but they knew what was going — How did Okay, I got to hear this. Michael, how does that work out? — Well, so I I we we had been talking. I knew she was coming down a certain road. I was working that night and so I knew what vehicle to look for. Of course, right? Of course, she didn't know where I was at. So, uh, — and you know each other at this point? — Oh, yeah. Yeah. We were dating at that time. So, as soon as I see her come up, I'm like, man, this is going to be great. Here we go. So, I I I turned on the red and blues and she pulled over — I kind of had my hat down, you know, where she couldn't see my face when I got up there and boy, — and I was nervous. — Who wouldn't be? — I mean, so nervous. And uh of course I tried to disguise my voice a little bit, you know, just but I couldn't I couldn't keep a straight face after a while because she was nervous. And then uh I just started laughing and almost got punched, I think.

[20:02] — Were you Were you Was it funny or were you mad? — Oh no, it was hilarious. I'm like, "Oh my goodness, I'm over here sweating. I couldn't even find my insurance." So yes, I was very nervous. — That's pretty bold for a woman whose brother carries a gun for a living. You know, like that, you know, that's a good one. All right. So, but you don't live in Leach now. You live in Midland, Odessa, which part? — We do in Midland. We've traveled all over Texas. We, you know, because of his job. And um that's okay. You know, wherever we're at, I adjust and go from there. Meet new friends. — All right. And so, what took you from Levik to Midland? — Oh, where do we start? — Well, it was uh it was the it was the job. It was a transfer. Uh we went from from Le to San Antonio. We had just just gotten married and went there. And um as a trooper I I promoted up to the criminal intelligence service was what they called it back then doing undercover work with uh different gangs and whatnot. So we went to El Paso for that and then I promoted to Texas Rangers. I was with those guys for 15 years and I moved around a lot. I always tell people any town that ends with an O in Texas we've lived there.

[21:06] — Okay, this is there's so many questions I have. Like number one, you don't look like a gang undercover kind of guy to me. Am I just bad like bad assumptions on my own? — No, you're you're good. — Okay. Okay. It was different for me. I I like shaving, but I had to learn to, you know, get the five o'clock shadow going. It was different. Yeah. But — Laura, what did you think about all — Oh, I thought he looked He looks handsome either way, you know, and for me, I'm like, "Wow, that's a different — That's the right answer. We're being recorded, so that's exactly the right — Okay. So So you're working Well, I mean, were you undercover? Yes, I I was only with with the the undercover for six months when I made Ranger. So, I wasn't in there that long to really get really into it, but uh I did a little bit. — And then now Lori, you're married to one of the like famed Texas R. I grew up in California and like all we know about Texas Rangers in California is one riot, one ranger. — Uh that's the way it works. And I'm like, well, he's probably arrested some of my family, you know, a long time ago, you know, but at the same time, I I had never met a night in shining armor in that, you know, as a Texas Ranger, as a state trooper, and and for me, like I was, oh my gosh, this is going to it's going to be so nerve-wracking for me, but I it's been an quite an adventure and I absolutely I'm so happy. So — I mean we if you if you live for me at least where I grew up if you were a Texas Ranger we just assume you got issued like a cape and a mask like you're a superhero like what what was that like getting the nod?

[22:31] — You know I have a lot I had a lot of friends that were Rangers when I first got in and when I got the phone call that hey from the assistant chief that hey you've you've made it. It was kind of like I think most guys would be like just excited and all that and and I think I I I felt like my stomach was turned upside down because I knew what I was fixing to get into because with that job it I mean everybody expects — You know especially when you're when you're working a criminal investigation, you know, you've got a lot of people looking at you. They they want successful results. So that's a heavy burden to carry. Uh because everybody thinks, "Oh, cuz you know, I'm a high patrol one day and the next day I'm I'm wearing the Cinco Peso badge and I'm supposed to be an expert in everything." And that's not the case. Yeah. — You know, so — it it was a it was a it was a big wakeup call for me that, hey, I I've really got to pick it up. I've really got to do the best I can every day with every case I I get, I have to investigate as thoroughly as possible and get justice for those family members.

[23:34] — These are like major investigations. — Yes, sir. Yeah. homicides, sexual assaults, uh we we did uh official oppression like you know public uh officer involved shootings is another big one that we we investigated a lot — So that uh we did protection details for the governor. — Um I was also on the ranger recon team. So we would go down to support the border patrol down on the the Texas Mexico border. — So I was involved in that as well. So, we we wore a lot of hats uh in the Rangers and it's — And when a Texan says he wears a lot of hats, you got to take that seriously. — Yeah. Wow. It's a lot. — Plus, he had to come home and, you know, be the dad, be the husband, and you know, for me, I didn't understand all of that because I'm like, okay, he needs a little bit of time to, you know, just gather himself. Yeah. before I throw a lot at him. Yeah. You know, — so if I'm gonna am I gonna speak life to him or I'm just gonna throw, you know, not literally a knife, but you know what? What am I gonna do for him? So, — and so now I mean I've never had law law enforcement in my family, right? So, I think that when that happens, as the one who's not the law enforcement part of the family, I would be a nervous wreck.

[24:44] — Oh, that happened every time he went out the door. — Yeah. because, you know, you just don't know who he's going to run into or who's looking for him in particular or if they know who I am or, you know, our son. So, that can be nerve-wracking. All I could just depend on was my my prayer and my — And so, Lori, what you said, like you have kids, that kept you pretty busy. That's a more than full-time job. — Well, Pearson was I mean, when you got in Ranger, you were what? — Well, that was in 2008. — 2000. So he he was pretty much you know in his junior high like that's I mean you know boys are going to be boys and that's okay too. So you know he he kept me busy on my toes and as well you know wondering about Michael plus we had two dogs so they kept me on my toes too. So you know — so so one kid two dogs and then at some point you decided to start a business. — We did. — Oh we did. We did. We've been in network marketing for quite some time, but this — I mean, drop the mic cuz — it is lifechanging. It has changed it changed my dad's life. And that was one of the main reasons we got into this one in particular. And um I came home, one of my friends called me. She goes, "Lori, you're never going to believe what I have my hands on. I want to help you and your sweet dad." Her dad had gone through chemo. Unfortunately, lost her dad. My dad went through chemo and he's a thor now, but um he had no quality of life.

[26:12] — And does he talk about what type of cancer he had? — He had a non-hodkkins lymphoma — um B cell and that was like right near his spine. So they surgery was not an option for him. — As far as me, I was like, "Okay, how can I get it?" And and what is it? She goes, "Well, hold on. I haven't even signed up." I was like, "Well, you called me and I want this in my dad's hands." — long story short, we put the patch on my dad. And that day, he's a one patch wonder. That day, he was outside instead of napping. He was actually working on his truck instead of wondering if, you know, he's going to wake up or not sometimes. And then he was underneath his truck. So, my mother is like, you know, it's already after 1:00. He needs to come in and eat. And I was like, why is he out there? Well, I don't know. He put that patch on. He's been out there ever since. — And for me to hear that, I'm like, are you kidding me? If that can do that for my dad, what can it do for my other friends and family that I know? So, — for me, it's service and I want to help others and I know Michael does too. So, — now Michael, you still were you still working in uh when law enforcement when this job with this new company kicked — No. No, sir. I I retired in January of And uh I worked for the I currently work for the oil and gas industry doing security work there in the Midland area.

[27:28] And when Lori first told me about it, — there's so many land man references we could make about a security guy. An ex an ex like Texas Ranger like I've got Yeah. Now I think you're like Chuck Norris, right? I'm afraid like Yeah. Okay, let's keep going. I'm going to sit further back so I don't get in trouble, but keep going. — Yeah. So So I'm working for the oil and gas industry and then so this was October of 2023. So that's when she's telling me about it. Now, we granted we've already done other business before that didn't do too well and so I didn't want to hear it and when she was telling about this patch and on transermal base it's it's a patented technology that nobody else has and I'm looking at it and I'm like that thing looks like a band-aid. I don't see how it's going to do that because I'm you know I'm skeptical of people you know there's so much fraud. I investigate a lot of fraud too. So, you know, I'm sitting there thinking okay what kind of snake oil is this? But um but here's the thing. When when I would do criminal investigations, I always had an open mind. I put my biases aside and I always let the evidence and the facts lead me to the truth.

[28:32] — Yeah, that's great. — And that's what I did with this patch here. And it blew my doors off once I once I got on my body. I saw what it did for Lori, her dad, other friends and family we put on. I said, "Hey, this is the real deal. This is something that we can we can definitely hang our hat on and and uh share with with everybody." Well, when the show is over, we'll ask you guys to send us like the science and we'll put it in the show notes and so when people are skeptical, they can get the like here's the studies, here are the things that have been done, here's the patents, and we'll put your contact information so they can get a hold of you as well. That'll be great. — Sounds good. — And so, so you started this business in 2023. You've got now so uh a small — in network marketing. You've got a business as a security guy. — How many questions do you get about the the new show Land Man? — It's uh it's quite a bit. Yeah. Yeah, — you know, I tell them, you know, they're like, "Hey, look, um, — not all that movie is filmed in Midland, Texas. I can assure you." You know, because there's no trees in there. — So, like some of that was probably in Fort Worth, Dallas. You know, the rolling hills. Yeah. Or somewhere over there. But, uh, yeah, I I'll tell Lori, you know, we've seen some episode like, "Yeah, that now that's that's Midland."

[29:39] Okay. That No, that's not Midland. You — and the coffee shop is not in Midland at all. Just saying if if you girls are out there trying to look for that kind of a job, don't come to me cuz it's not — That's funny. Well, and you know, it's I just it just occurred. So, Tales of Abundance, why settle for less? That's the name of our show. You're in two businesses right now that really understand boom and bust network — There's a lot of hit it big and miss it big. In in energy like oil and gas, there's a lot of hit it big, miss it big. So tell me some of your favorite, you know, Midland stories or or or upo or San Antonio or anywhere you've been like some like what what are some of your favorite boom and bust stories, real or fictional? — I think I think the the one that that I probably appreciate the most is so we were in Abene and I promoted to lieutenant and the Rangers and we went to Laredo and Abene we had a we had a nice house. — Okay, hold for a second. Lori, you're already laughing here. What are you going to add here? — Well, you know, I'm I'm all about adventure and we bought our house and I'm so excited to be in this house and I can just see it. You know, I I envision what this house is going to look like because Yeah. I mean, as a dreamer, you know, you want you want to go and pursue all those dreams and make your house the way you know it's ours now. Let's do it.

[31:00] We're going to Laredo. That is not a place where I wanted to live. But again, it's adventure and everywhere we moved, you know, I made do with with what I had. As far as Michael and I go, we're happy where we go. And let me tell you, adventures are great. — And if you don't have a dream, you know, just trust me, you know, start dreaming again because for me, like I'm excited of of moving forward, especially with this business, because I'm able to dream bigger. I think that's really true for I think you know in independent of the product or service or company or you know law enforcement with the ladder that you climb I think having that view that really crystal clear like and it may not be like — I don't know about you I didn't I'm not here today I didn't think I would be here 10 years ago right but but I but I knew that directionally I wanted more right and you guys have been married how long now? — 20 years. — 20 years. — We just had our 20 year anniversary. — And you know we talk about trips. I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt, but 20 years like I never thought we were ever going to go to the Grand Cayman Islands and, you know, having this business helped us, you know, pursue that, get that off our bucket list.

[32:12] — So, yeah, — I was fishing the other day and uh one of my bucket list items was to catch a tuna and eat the tuna right on the boat. And about four weeks before I went fishing, a chef was like, "You know, they're supposed to flash freeze that and let it sit for 3 days so you don't actually eat parasites." And so, we were on the boat caught a tuna. like, "Do you want some?" I was like, "I'm good." — It's like I checked it off my bucket list four weeks ago by not catching one. — Uh so yeah, — change your heart. — Well, change of gut. Really? — Gut health is pretty important. Having extra parasites wasn't part of my deal. So, and it probably wouldn't have been a thing. It just happened back toback and I was like, I'm just gonna — I'm gonna wait to make sure that's treated appropriately. — That's f So, 20. Okay. So, you know, we talk about family a lot on on our show. Uh what what's the key to it looks like a pretty happy 20 years sitting here — it is. It has been. — Yeah. The key is communication, you know. Um I think that's like with business, right? I mean, communications is key. And I know our marriage is is um is is based off of communication, staying in contact with each other, working things out. If there's an issue, we we resolve it. And uh — but did did you have to learn that from somewhere or did did it come naturally?

[33:28] Did you see your parents do it? How did you figure that because in my world my father died when I was really young so I didn't have a model to watch with my parents. I had to go learn about marriage. How did you figure that out? — Oh geez. So I'll start with me. Basically I grew up you know as a in in a Christian home and faith believing and you know I saw my parents. I saw them love each other. I saw, you know, like they showed up for me and I'm like, well, dad had a rough day. Mom just went over there and was ironing and just put that aside and comforted him. And I mean, you know, just talk to him. And so, I knew with Michael and what he did out there, you know, I needed to to set an example, not just for myself, but anyone else watching as far as women goes, you know, I I needed to let him know I'm here for you if you want to talk. Yeah. you know, I couldn't shut him out and I knew he couldn't shut me out. So, I I left that door of communication open. That was so important. And we grew through all of that. All these years, we've grown through all of it. And it's been exciting just to see our lives as a couple just grow and increase in our relationship and in, you know, just being relational with a lot of people too along the way. So, we've been able to help others.

[34:44] — Yeah. I think and and I think so I was talking to someone recently about like what happens during the hard times because every long-term relationship has rough patches, right? — And so what were the what were the belief systems or the conversations that helped you weather the storm or storms? — Well, again, it just goes back to my faith and having close friends, you know, and and some of these friends I've just kept in contact in every place I've moved. You know, it's like, "Hey, I need you to pray for me." me, you know, one of them's a a elementary friend, you know, and she lives in Bernie, bless her heart, she's, you know, fighting cancer right now. But, you know, I'm like, golly, I just thank you so much for your friendship and you've helped me along the way, you know, and we we talk about, you know, our our marriages and what can we do better as as wives. So, it's it's been interesting along the way. — It's hard to look at yourself in the mirror and say, "What can I do better?" when there's a storm, right? Easier to point to somebody else, — you know? I've always learned, you know, you just have to thank God every day because every day is a gift. — Yeah, it's I don't listen to tons of Michael Jackson, but that song Man in the Mirror, like I it was like, man, I hate that song. I should listen to it a lot more often.

[35:53] — That's funny. Michael, how about for you? What are the things you have helped you get through the storms? — I think like like like Lori said, it's about faith. I mean, I you know, when I when when I met her, I I believed in God, but I didn't really I don't know. I mean, we my family, we we we were in a small West Texas town, so we we didn't go to church, but we we believed God. And I always thought, well, you know, it's about being a good person, you know, that's what I thought until her dad got a hold of me, — you know, cuz he he was a pastor. I mean, that's all he's done. So, that kind of opened up my mind to reading about the Bible. I started reading the Bible more and looking at the principles and and really seeing how her family was raised, you know, was a was a game changer. I'm like, well, her parents, how long they've been married for? — Uh, 60 years. — We just they just had their anniversary. — Years. Yeah. — Yeah. I want to go to those parties even enough to know the couple just to like listen to like how they got to 60 years. What a — So, they're doing something right, right? If it's 60 years, I mean, there's something there's a there's a secret to success. Yeah, — that we want to know. But — what would they say, you think?

[36:59] — Well, you know, that's what So, this is what was weird. So, right before we got married, we go to talk to her dad, right? You do the pastor talk. — Did you take your gun? — No, I did not. — Okay. I was It's a fair question though, — Had one. — Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, because he he's done that so many times where he's talked to people about to get married. Well, you know, here his daughter and then here I am. And uh you know and he's talking about hey finances you know. — Okay. More nervous facing a criminal with a gun or more nervous facing her dad asking for a friend. Which was more — Oh man. Yeah. I mean facing him. — Yeah. Her dad. Okay. We knew that was the answer. Yeah. — Yeah. That's hands down. But uh but then he's talking about, you know, talking about sex and marriage and stuff and I'm — Oh, how uncomfortable was that? — Yeah. Tell me about it. — That was uncomfortable. Yeah, her dad pastor and I'm sitting here going, you — but uh but yeah, I mean we — as like as if you didn't understand what it was or just what was your intention like what was that conversation? — Now he just talks about a successful marriage, you know, about the you know couples need to get on the same page and you know it's about communication. It's about, you know, your finances cuz, you know, now — we don't talk about these things in our society. Like, you really have to work to talk about sex and money and kids and religion and these I mean, these are topics that are laden with friction.

[38:18] — And the sex part was one of those like, oh, y'all y'all talked about that? Really? I didn't know what to say. I was like, oh, I'm embarrassed. But I'm glad because that's — okay. Now I got to dive in and talk to I mean and not to put you on the spot, but like this is a really important topic like and and not and by the way I've talked to couples married 50 years and in one case I you know there's a couple that uh have been a mentor for me for a long time and they talk about it regularly and I I mean at first I blushed. I was like oh my god I can't believe it. But then I recognized like this is actually like a topic and if you don't share that with other people then they don't know like so getting on the same page about like how often about what what's working not working. — Yeah. You know and another thing that — we just met like literally five minutes before this. So — we're being transparent here. — Nobody wants to talk about this. I'm so glad you're willing to open up and talk about it. — Yeah. And it's like, you know, like they say, hey, don't don't withhold sex from the other to get back at them or to prove your point, you know, I mean, sex is is a gift to the married cause. It's a gift from God. I mean, it's, you know, that's that's part of it, right? You — not currency.

[39:28] — Exactly. Yeah. You know, so — yeah, that so that that's very important. I mean, the intimacy part, uh, being together, um, — you know, being one, I guess you can say. Yeah. Um along with the communication, everything else. I mean, I I really think that's what's really helped our marriage is just the openness, the intimacy, communication. — You have a son, Pearson. Yes, sir. — How old is he? — He's 28. — And so, have you shared any of this knowledge with him? — Yes. Uh he I think he he is very He's a very Christianoriented guy. He's very picky. I mean, he knows — and that's good. — Yeah. He he doesn't just go try and pick up women and stuff. He's very selective because I'm not going to date him unless — they're they're wife material. — You know, — that's great. — He's not going to sleep around and do all that stuff. So, — I mean, at 28, I was different. You know, I wasn't like him. And so, — you were pulling over ladies on the side of the road with a gun. Yeah, we heard about that. — Yeah. His wife's in the car watching like, "Hey, you know."

[40:30] — Yeah. Yeah. — Lori's got a sense of humor. All right. Okay. Yeah. — Oh, sense of humor helps for a marriage, — It does. Yeah. — Yeah. We — we pull jokes on each other. Yeah, we do. We have a good time. We laugh a lot. She's got a sense of humor. U you there's things — Yeah. back and forth. So, we we have a there's a lot of comedy in our marriage, which is great. Uh — Lori, what's your best one? I know you've like quiet, but I can see — I am quiet. This for me, like talking into this little microphone here in front of me, I feel like it's just the biggest thing ever. And you know, I'm afraid of it, but I'm not anymore. But let me tell you, I I don't know. I just I like to have fun. — And so so when what tell me about a time Michael didn't see it coming like the you know the crying laughing that I know probably happens. — I think he's done more of it to me though because I'm very gullible. I mean I am he's if I can just share this. I was working at a day and I'm massage therapist for those that don't know but I'm trying to memorize our home number. Okay. 2110 D, right? And the phone rings and I'm answering the phone trying to, you know, make the schedule and then he's on the other end. Well, I didn't recognize it cuz I'm here like at work in a new — He goes, "Yeah, I was just calling to see if I can get a massage." And I'm thinking, "Okay."

[41:57] — Did you disguise your voice again? — I did because — see he's the one. — I picked up on it that I'm like, "She doesn't know it's me on the other line." So I was like, "Man, this is prime opportunity right here." Okay. — And pardon what I'm going to say. He's like, "Yeah, I just got a question." I said, "Yeah, how how can I help you?" He goes, "Um, do you massage testicles?" And I'm like, I just dropped the phone from my ear. And I'm like, "Are you kidding?" I said, "Uh, no sir, we do not." And by that time, he's already laughing. I'm like, — I couldn't hold it together. I just I was going to try and keep running with it, but I couldn't. I couldn't do it. — So, he's the one that he's the — I can tell you what I'd have for dinner if I did it to my wife at work. — But, you know, and I'm like, "Oh, this what else does he have?" You know, I think he's pulled more on me than I have him. So, I don't know. He might can answer that. — That Well, that that was the one that was the one — that I was going to share. Okay. But you just That's probably the best one because you didn't see it coming.

[43:00] — He's more of a jokester. — Oh, man. I'm so gullible. I really am. — And so you've passed this knowledge down to the next generation which I think is critically important as we help you know I the the breakdown of the family unit whether you're you know have a Christian belief system or not. I I I well known by our audience. I'm a devout Catholic and so uh we talk about that on the show with some regularity. But the the breakdown of the family unit is hard. It's hard for kids. It's hard for parents. It's hard for everybody. And so passing on how to have successful marriage. That's uh — yeah. So the and our our son's even told us, you know, he's he's seen our marriage and that's kind of what he wants. He wants to find a girl that he is compatible with like that. — And and it all goes back to also, you know, God's first and foremost. You know, he's he's at the head. And the thing is is is the way Lori was brought up. I mean, we each know our roles and and we we work together and it's it works great. — You know, so — and that's also helped out our business too because it's it's our business is like family oriented. Of course, putting God first, but family oriented and how can we serve others, not just each other, but how can we serve other people? And with this patch, we know and believe that because of what it's done, we've seen what it's done. It says what it does. And um we just like to serve — So that's — it helps the world when you're looking for ways. I I I talked to my family about being netgivers, right? Like give more than you get. And that's and that's — maybe this is just the world that I live in, but I want there to be more of that in the world.

[44:41] — You know, we were talking right before the show with my co-hosts and what we were like in our 30s and and I was like, you know, I wasn't that. — it was not that for sure. And I see a lot in younger people today. I do see a lot more of that, you know, more friendship than I had growing up, more giving. And so I I do have a lot of hope about the future. — Oh, yeah. We do, too. — Yes. I mean, and who doesn't seek hope? You know, you could be that one person — you know, they're looking for just to give them a little bit of hope. Something, you know, that they're like, — you're the only person that really cared today." Yeah. — You know, you just don't know where people have been in life. Yeah. And you don't know what they're going through that day. So, it's and that's something we have to think about, you know, are we going to show them — a fake person or are we going to be real and just show that authenticity to them? And that's who we are. We've always been that way and it's been consistent. No different. We've grown as a couple, you know, doing it doing this business together. But at the same time, we just love people. — So, based on all that, you've kept friends for decades all over the state as you've grown. You've got a great new business. you've got uh you know a new career for you, Michael. You've got all these things happening. I'm going to ask you to leave with this like what's your one big relationship idea? I don't mean marriage, I mean friendships, I mean professional relationships, I mean marriage and kids. If you had one, and I didn't prep you for this at all, so I recognize I'm putting you on the spot, but if you had just one big relationship idea, what would you say to our — It's about what's in it for them. You know, um we are all about us, right? I mean, I think everybody is. I mean, we're we're all sinners, right? We're all in it for us. And and I think a lot of times we have to kind of step back and it's not about us. It's about I mean, that's why we're here. That's, you know, when you talk about the gospel, right? We're not here for ourselves.

[46:32] — So, that's that's what that's my my thing is is what what can we do to help somebody else? You know, whatever they're going through or or advice you can give them or help them, that's that's what it's about. take take you out of the equation and put somebody else in there. — Yeah. Regardless of their belief system, their perspective, there just meet them right where they are. — Exactly. Love them where they're at to where they're going. — Well, you heard it here. So, Tales of Abundance, thanks for being here, Michael. Thanks for being here, Lori. What an amazing show. You're going to send us uh all the information, the links to your company that you started, the science, the the information, the background, the technology, and most importantly, how to contact you. Yes, — So people can learn about this. And uh listeners, you know what to do. You got to like, subscribe, share this this uh this episode with some friends and uh let people know that you heard from Lori and Michael here first. So, thanks for being here. Come back next time. I'm Dr. John Oberg, Tales of Abundance. We'll talk to you again soon. — Thank you. — Listen and subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcast. Click follow for more content like this or go to talesofabundance.com to join our community and get free tools.